Chapter 4: Martial Arts Exam Registration Fee
Chapter 4: Chapter 4: Martial Arts Exam Registration Fee
School was finally over. Fang Chen followed the crowd out of the academic building.
"Hey, Superpower Master!"
A familiar voice called out. He looked toward the sound and saw Xia Chu standing a short distance away, carrying her backpack and looking pretty and lively. She wore a clean school uniform, her long hair tied in a ponytail. A bright smile adorned her elegant, moving face.
"Hmph, I didn’t see you all day. I thought the Spirit Awakener had taken a liking to your talent and taken you away right then and there." Xia Chu complained, but the corners of her eyes crinkled in amusement, clearly showing she was in a great mood.
Looking at her fair, cute face, Fang Chen couldn’t help but recall how he had pinched her cheeks in the Time Stop Domain. He smiled unconsciously.
"What are you smiling at? Do I look weird today?" Xia Chu walked closer and looked down at herself in confusion.
"No," Fang Chen shook his head. "You look great."
Stepping up beside him, Xia Chu familiarly linked her arm through his. "By the way, what tier of Superpower did you awaken today?"
Fang Chen silently turned his wrist over, revealing the green Spirit Seal.
"Ah... Tier Two." Xia Chu took a glance.
"Did I disappoint Miss Xia?"
"Not at all!" Xia Chu instead started laughing, a hint of slyness in her tone. "Hehe, to be honest, I’m actually a little happy... Ah, just a little bit, a tiny bit! You’re not allowed to hit me!"
"When have I ever hit you?" Fang Chen chuckled. "Tell me, why are you happy?"
"Because you’ve left me too far behind on the Martial Dao," Xia Chu said, her tone dropping slightly. "I’m almost eighteen, yet I still haven’t cultivated True Qi..."
"You can’t rush cultivation. You still have a year, so as long as you work hard, it’s possible," Fang Chen comforted her.
"I know, but the entrance exams are coming up soon. If I neither awaken a Superpower nor reach the True Martial Realm for the martial exam..." She gave Fang Chen a lonely look. "I feel like I won’t pass, and then I won’t be able to attend the same university as you."
Fang Chen reached out and gently patted her head, stroking her soft hair. "Which is why you shouldn’t rush. There are still two months until the exams. The more anxious you are, the harder it will be to break through your bottleneck. Besides, with the strength of the Xia family, getting into a university is a piece of cake."
"My family... Sigh, it’s not as easy as you think." Xia Chu sighed, then shook her head. "Forget it, let’s not talk about this! Come on, let’s go to the back gate. I’ll treat you to whatever you want!"
Fang Chen shook his head. "My grandfather is gathering the whole village for a meeting tonight. I have to go back early."
"Oh," Xia Chu understood and asked with concern, "Is it about the registration fee for the martial exam? How about I ask my parents to sponsor you a bit..."
"No need," Fang Chen interrupted her, his tone gentle but firm. "It’s not a small amount. Even though your family is well-off, it would be difficult for you to ask for so much money. I don’t want to put you in a tough spot. And, I also don’t want to... you know."
"Ugh, you’re so stubborn! I think my parents like you quite a bit," Xia Chu muttered.
Fang Chen merely smiled faintly and didn’t reply.
The two walked out of the school gates side by side. A black sedan was already waiting by the side of the road. The window rolled down, revealing the faces of Xia Chu’s parents. Xia Yu looked composed and dignified, while Zhao Xinlan was impeccably groomed. Their clothing was low-key but tasteful.
"Haha. Xia Chu, Fang Chen," Xia Yu greeted with a smile.
"Hello, Mr. Xia. Hello, Mrs. Xia," Fang Chen greeted politely.
Zhao Xinlan smiled gently. "Thank you for your hard work, Fang Chen. With you looking after Xia Chu these past few years, we’ve felt much more at ease."
"You’re too polite, Mrs. Xia. We’re classmates, it’s the least I can do."
Xia Yu’s gaze fell upon Fang Chen, and he took the opportunity to ask, "By the way, Fang Chen, you went for your Spirit Awakening today, didn’t you? How were the results?"
Fang Chen turned his wrist over once more, flashing that touch of green.
Xia Yu and Zhao Xinlan’s eyes narrowed slightly. A barely perceptible shift flashed across their faces before their expressions returned to normal.
Xia Yu chuckled. "Haha, not bad at all. Well then, we’ll be taking Xia Chu home now." With that, he signaled for Xia Chu to get in the car.
"Goodbye, Chen!" Xia Chu slid into the car and popped her head out to wave goodbye.
"See you tomorrow." Fang Chen watched the black sedan drive smoothly away before turning toward the bike shed to hop on his bicycle.
As Fang Chen pedaled his bicycle, his thoughts remained on that scene at the school gates.
"Like me?" he thought, pondering Xia Chu’s claim that her parents liked him, and shook his head. "Rather than liking me, it’s more that they’re relieved their daughter has a free and reliable bodyguard at school."
Having reincarnated, he had also been a father in his previous life. He understood this mentality all too well. What parent wouldn’t want a better, more secure future for their daughter?
With his ordinary family background, the empty title of being the "number one Martial Artist of The Three Greats" wasn’t enough for the Xia family to truly look upon him with favor. Unless, of course, he could awaken a Tier Three or higher Superpower. That would truly signify a bright future on the Martial Dao and the potential to change his social class. In this world, a Martial Artist without a Superpower, no matter how hard they trained, would ultimately have a limited ceiling.
After riding for about an hour, he left the city district and returned to Li Family Village, which was situated on the outskirts of the city.
The entire village basically belonged to the same clan. The clan leader and village chief was his grandfather, Li Hongxuan. His grandmother had been a girl his grandfather met outside the village. Later, his grandmother gave birth to his father alone and had him take her surname, Fang. It wasn’t until his grandmother was on her deathbed that she brought his father back to Li Family Village, where his grandfather officially acknowledged his son. However, his grandfather’s main wife adamantly refused to allow his father to change his surname back to Li.
"A petty village chief, yet acting like an ancient royal estate, fussing over legitimate and illegitimate statuses..." Fang Chen thought, finding it somewhat ridiculous whenever he recalled it.
"Mom, my brother is back!"
"Chen’Er is back!"
As he rode into his family’s courtyard, the voices of his younger sister, Fang Min, and his mother, Song Qingmei, pulled him back from his thoughts.
"Mom, I’m home. Minmin, did you work hard on your martial arts today?"
"I’m so tired today. I’ve been working in the fields all day and didn’t have time to practice."
Fang Chen affectionately ruffled her hair. "That’s okay. You can just consider it physical training."
He sighed slightly. That was just how things were. The village children had limited time to practice martial arts every day, unlike the students in the city who could go to a martial arts academy for extra training after school.
Fang Chen looked at his mother. "Where’s Dad?"
"Your dad has already gone ahead to your grandfather’s place. Hurry over; you’re also the center of attention in today’s meeting."
"Okay," Fang Chen acknowledged. He parked his bike, turned around, and headed toward his grandfather’s compound.
Arriving at the large courtyard, he made his way through the crowd to the front of the main house. There, he bowed respectfully to Li Hongxuan, who sat at the center of honor.
"Grandfather."
Li Hongxuan nodded slightly, his gaze landing on Fang Chen with a mix of scrutiny and expectation. "Chen’Er, how were the Spirit Awakening results? What tier are you?"
Fang Chen couldn’t remember how many times he had answered this question today. He dutifully turned his wrist over, revealing that vivid touch of green.
"Tier Two," he answered calmly.
Li Hongxuan leaned forward and carefully examined the Spirit Seal, pressing further. "Is it an ability related to the Five Elements or Spiritual Power?"
"No."
A complex emotion flashed through Li Hongxuan’s eyes—a mix of regret and a sort of relieved resignation. He leaned back in his chair and waved a hand.
"Alright, go sit down. Your cousin Li Shanqiang also completed his Spirit Awakening today, and he’s also Tier Two. The reason I called this meeting is to discuss the martial exam registration fees for the two of you."
"Yes, Grandfather. I’ll defer to your arrangements."
Fang Chen complied, stepping aside to find a seat next to his father, Fang Lin.